Chicago raises hotel tax to 19% to “attract more tourists” to the city

Our take:  That headline is not a misprint. The Chicago City Council unanimously voted to create a Tourism Improvement District and raise taxes on hotel rooms in that district to19%. The funds will be used to market the city to more tourists. If you understand this, please email me and explain it.

My admittedly very small mind does not understand how raising prices makes your offering more attractive. To be fair, I have had the same haircut for 30 years, so I’m pretty basic. Marketing efforts are designed by and for people much smarter than me.  

The IOC changes the rules so that only women can compete in women’s sports

Our take: Look – before puberty, there is generally not a problem with most sports being coed. We support this 100%, as team athletics are one of the most positive activities any child can participate in if the environment is good. Physical advantages are small to nonexistent, and the stakes are low. After puberty, when many boys and girls start to develop and pursue competitive sports as a serious commitment, common sense and logic are finally prevailing over feelings.

I 100% support anyone’s right to live their life the way they want. You were born a man but want to live as a woman? Go for it! I’m 100% behind you. Right up until you want to change or shower next to my wife, or you want to take opportunities away from women who have spent their entire lives training to be the best at a sport, only to have to compete with men who clearly have physical advantages. It’s nonsense and never should happen.

I am a major sports advocate for everyone. I put myself through college on a baseball scholarship, and I want everyone – men and women alike – to have the opportunity to pursue a similar path if they choose. We cannot disenfranchise women by making them compete against men when the stakes are higher.

It creates an unfair environment, exposes women unnecessarily to the risk of injury, and can take away financial opportunities for women. Men living as women have every right to compete in any sport they want—against other men. We are happy that order has finally been restored so we don’t have to see female boxers getting pummeled by men pretending to be women again at the Olympics. 

San Francisco makes algebra available to 8^th graders again

Our take: What the hell? Over a decade ago, San Francisco eliminated algebra before high school so students could have “more time to master foundational math before advancing.” Translation – because some students are further ahead than others, we don’t want the students lagging to feel bad, so we will take away the learning opportunities from the advanced students to prevent the learning gap from widening. Instead of raising the bottom group, they lowered the ceiling. 

Good call! I can’t figure out why students today are struggling to achieve basic mastery of reading, writing, and mathematics. Oh, yeah, I can. It’s because we have lowered expectations in the name of sparing kids’ feelings. How about challenging them, teaching them, and making them work for a better education? Algebra was a regular subject in 7^th grade back before electricity, when I was in middle school. We had 3 full classes of students who took it in 7^th grade. I find it hard to believe we were all super smart and advanced. I do know Mr. Carvelle was on your ass if you didn’t do your homework. 

Tip of the day – How to develop a growth mindset from Psychology Today  

Pay attention to your words and thoughts. Start to pay attention to the words you speak, even the words in your mind. If your words are low or dark, the results may also be. So watch yourself. Listen to what you are saying and thinking. Censor yourself and become your own guide.

Replace negative thoughts with more positive ones to build a growth mindset. Replace judgment with acceptance, hate with compassion. If you are disrespecting yourself or lowering your ethical standards, the outcome of your decisions and their consequences will reflect that. Intend to think higher thoughts and hold yourself to them.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“People are anxious to improve their circumstances but are unwilling to improve themselves.”

Chicago raises hotel tax to 19% to “attract more tourists” to the city https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/failing-city-mocked-for-bizarre-plan-to-boost-tourism-by-hiking-hotel-taxes-to-19/ar-AA1Zonfu?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=69c53ad993a14fd691021b8e1d490eee&ei=177

The IOC changes the rules so that only women can compete in women’s sports https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/ioc-announces-new-policy-to-ensure-only-females-compete-in-women-s-competitions/ar-AA1Zsqo0?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=69c53f3030c1497294d27aba4df1347c&ei=19

San Francisco makes algebra available to 8^th graders again https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/san-francisco-restores-8th-grade-algebra-after-equity-experiment-backfires/ar-AA1ZoJp4?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=4f2ad3410b8b45ce82a6863a7692b17e&ei=31